BCCI likely to extend tenure of selection committee

The Cricket Board (BCCI) is likely to retain the five-member selection committee thanks to Indian team's World Cup triumph, its ascend to the top of Test rankings and the consistent run in limited overs cricket.

According to a Board official, the BCCI, it is believed, is satisfied with the selection committee's performance headed by chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth. "The entire panel is likely to get an extension, probably for a year, when the board meets in August or September to decide their fate," a BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

"The extension is being mulled in view of the Indian team's performances during the panel's tenure. They have won the World Cup after a gap of 28 years, maintained their number one status in Test cricket and are right up there in ODIs also," the official added.

While it make sense to retain the panel after the team's glorious run, one of the selectors, when contacted refused to comment. "I do my job, and we are not supposed to comment under the code of conduct," the selector said.

Two members -Bhave and Hirwani- are currently in the West Indies watching the Test series and are expected to be a part of the discussions via tele-conference along with Srikkanth, the other two selectors, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher for picking up the Test squad for the upcoming tour of England.

Besides four Test matches, the Indian team will play five One-day Internationals and a lone Twenty20 match during the two-month tour.